However, Cellino insists that this is a very different situation, primarily because Nainggolan is happy in Sardinia.

"He is not interested in going anywhere," the Rossoblu supremo told Sky Sport Italia. "I do not think that he will leave Cagliari.

"Last year I gave Matri to Marotta because he wanted to leave but Nainggolan wants to stay and I cannot sell him anyway as we do not have the cover."

Meanwhile, Cellino was disgusted with his side's performance in their 3-0 defeat by AC Milan at San Siro on Sunday night.

"We did not play; only Milan played," he fumed. "I was not pleased by our performance. It was like one of those games at the end of the season when the bags are already packed for holidays.

"I hope this is not my Cagliari. Today I saw only [Davide] Astori and [Mauricio] Pinilla play well; the others were never in the game.

"The situation with the transfer market is clearly distracting us and I hope it finishes soon."

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